ABCNews.com Names New Managing Editor

Promotes others within digital unit

By John Eggerton -- Broadcasting & Cable, 3/15/2013 11:49:15 AM

Laiea Smith, managing editor of ABCNews.com since October 2010, has exited ABC. She is being replaced by reporter Eric Noe, who has been with ABC since 2004.

"I'm confident we'll continue to expand our reach and take our original reporting to new heights under Eric's expert guidance," said ABC News digital executive producer Lea Ann Leming, to whom Noe reports.

In addition, Al Gazan, who had been heading up GoodMorningAmerica.com on Yahoo will add "head of lifestyle" for ABC News Digital to her duties; John Shehata, executive director of SEO will expand his scope within digital media; Andrew Springer, social media producer for broadcast news, has been named senior editor of social media; and health producer Katie Moisse has been named health editor.

Leming gave a "big thank you" to Smith. "[S]he's steered ABCNews.com through a time of major transformation and growth, and during her time at ABC, she's made major contributions to many shows and platforms," Leming said in a statement. "She was often the first to arrive and the last to leave each day. We wish her well on her new adventures."